UT Women's Golf Starts Season in National Rankings
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. - The Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) has announced the results of the WGCA Coaches Poll preseason rankings. The University of Tampa is recognized as the No. 17 team in the Division II poll, marking the program's first-ever preseason appearance in the poll.
Opening at No. 1 in Division II is Sunshine State Conference opponent Barry University, who received four first-place votes, while Dallas Baptist University also received four first-place votes to come in at No. 2. NCAA runner-up California State University San Marcos received three first-place votes to sit at No. 3, while the University of Indianapolis and Lynn University round out the top five.
The SSC opens the season with seven schools in the top-25. Joining Tampa, Barry and Lynn are Nova Southeastern (6), Florida Southern (12), Saint Leo (13) and Rollins (14).
The Spartans have now been ranked in seven consecutive polls, with the No. 17 ranking representing the highest showing in program history.
Head coach Missey Jones welcomes back her top four players from last season, including three-time All-American and SSC champion Kiira Riihijarvi. The most decorated player in program history, the senior from Oulu, Finland spent time as the number-one ranked player in the nation last season and has won a total of six individual championships as a Spartan.
Senior Sofia Cadavid also returns as she averaged 76.6 last season with a pair of top-10 finishes. She was also the top UT golfer at the 2019 NCAA South Super Regional. Also returning to lead UT are sophomore Emily Montagnino (77.50) and junior Heather Kipniss (78.27).